The Red Room

One of the many things I have learned from the recent events of my life is that if I plan to run away I should have a plan of where I'm going. For the second time in the past week Morgan and I trudged hand in hand through the forest with no idea where we would end up next. Then, of course, there was the church camp incident where I just ended up returning to where I started. I realized this would become a fatal flaw if I kept doing it.

Leaves crunched under our shoes as we walked and the sweet smell of nature distracted me from the annoying gnats attacking my hair as if it was some sort of lamp.

Morgan was walking quietly beside me and I could see his brain working. I guessed he was probably figuring out how best to ask me where we were going even though he knew as well as I did that I had no idea.

He opened his mouth to ask and I cut him off. "I don't know where we're going."

He sighed. "We should probably figure that out."

"I know." I shut my eyes tight and opened them again. Blobs of color danced in my vision and I could feel my head rushing. How can I see these blobs if they're not really there? I can't believe everything I see because these blobs are nonexistent but I can see them just fine. Maybe, then, the trees I could see didn't exist either. Maybe I was back at the fugitive house and this was all my eyes playing cruel tricks on me.

I sighed knowing I was just giving myself false hope. "I'm sorry, Morgan." I started.

"Don't say it." He warned.

"What do you mean?" I asked, surprised.

"Don't tell me that it's all your fault and that you shouldn't have pulled me into this mess and now you have no plan and you feel terrible." He demanded. "It's not your fault. I'd actually be dead without you. You didn't force me into any of this. I'd follow you anywhere, Extreme. Please don't think you have to figure this out on your own. I'm here for you, always." He smiled down at me with the stunning emeralds that took the place of his eyes.

I nodded, trying not to cry. No one had been there for me my whole life with the exception of Tara for a short time. I couldn't believe he would still be with me after everything. I couldn't help it anymore and the tears came rushing out. "Thank you." I sniffled as we stopped walking so he could hold me in his arms.

"For what?" He asked resting his cheek on my strawberry blonde head.

"Everything."

Tara's POV

A terrible silence spread over the house. We all looked at Killer.

She glared at everyone. "Good. Now things can go back to normal." She stormed off to the back side of the house and a few seconds later I heard the back door slam shut.

I shook my head and groaned at her selfishness and ran up the stairs to my room and sat on my bed with my head against the wall.

I would miss Iz so much. She was my very first friend and my love for her ran deeper than most of the others. Not that I didn't love my family more than anything, but there was something different about the way I loved her. Like a best friend who's been there for the good and bad parts of my life instead of just the good like the rest of my family.

Iz was there when I needed someone in the Red Room. When I wasn't allowed to eat she risked everything to bring me food. As much as I try not to think about the Red Room I will never forget that. She risked her own life to save mine; there aren't many people like that anymore.